Rustle!
Just as Zhu Hao was eagerly preparing to hunt down more Soul Beasts, a strange, grating sound reached his ears—a continuous rustling, like dry leaves rubbing together, or silk being aggressively torn.
Zhu Hao instantly snapped to attention. He spun around, and his pupils dilated at the horrifying sight that emerged from the undergrowth: an ugly, enormous black mass.
It was a monstrous spider. Its main body was nearly seven feet in diameter, supported by eight legs, each over ten feet long and as thick as steel spears. Its entire body was encased in a shiny, obsidian-black carapace. The tips of its legs were slender and needle-sharp; every silent step it took pierced the ground, underscoring their lethal penetration power.
Swish!
Without preamble or warning, the giant spider opened its mandibles and expelled a massive, shimmering spider web, covering an area of dozens of yards, hurtling toward Zhu Hao.
"Holy cow!"
Zhu Hao's pupils shrank to pinpoints. He instantly opened his own mouth and spat out a much smaller, dark spider web in retaliation.
"Acquire Magical Power: Drill Hole!"
In the exact moment he counterattacked, Zhu Hao spent a fraction of his Experience and Energy to instantly acquire the Drill Hole Magical Power he had gained from defeating the Earth Rat.
Sizzle!
The two spider webs—one gargantuan, one tiny—collided mid-air. The concentrated, violent toxins from both webs reacted, erupting into a cloud of pungent black smoke.
Simultaneously, Zhu Hao identified his attacker. On the spider's terrifying abdomen were distinct white stripes that formed the hideous shape of a human face. Below it, eight small eyes flashed with faint, malevolent purple light.
This was clearly the Human-Faced Demon Spider, a notorious, terrifying assassin and the primal nightmare of all smaller Soul Beasts. It was known for its impenetrable shell, blinding speed, eight piercing legs, and highly potent neurotoxin. Its web was incredibly adhesive, unbelievably tough, and could cover an area ten times the spider's own size.
Pfff!
Zhu Hao's web was dwarfed by the Demon Spider's. After a brief moment of futile resistance, it was suppressed. The Demon Spider's massive web continued its descent, threatening to completely envelop Zhu Hao.
Swish!
Seeing the web falling and blocking all escape routes, Zhu Hao acted. His bear claws rapidly dug into the ground, creating an opening. The moment the sticky web collapsed onto the soil, Zhu Hao vanished beneath the surface.
Supernatural Power: Drill Hole!
Zhu Hao tunneled rapidly underground, emerging only once he was well clear of the Demon Spider's attack radius.
"The Human-Faced Demon Spider can only spit out its web three times a day. That leaves, at most, two more!"
Zhu Hao quickly calculated. He remained in his regular size, deciding not to expend the energy on the Law of Heaven and Earth just yet. Instead, a golden bow materialized in his paw.
Magical Power: Gale Bow!
He reached back, and a sleek, dark, obsidian spear condensed in his grip.
Magical Power: Ink Soul Spear!
"Now, you get to experience the sheer, terrifying power of Lord Pig's combined Magical Powers!"
Zhu Hao drew the Gale Bow, using the Mohun Spear as an arrow. The bow was taut as a full moon, the sharp, dark missile poised to pierce the heavens.
The Human-Faced Demon Spider, which had been frantically searching for Zhu Hao, suddenly tensed. It spun around, its eight small, purple eyes locking onto the little bear. Its eight legs churned, transforming the creature into a black blur as it rushed toward Zhu Hao.
Whoosh!
Zhu Hao's eyes narrowed. His bear paw released the string. The Mohun Spear instantly became a faint streak of light, shrieking through the air with a terrifying sonic boom, aimed directly at one of the Demon Spider's eyes.
Clang!
The Demon Spider reacted with impossible speed, raising one of its legs like a flashing steel scimitar. The leg sliced down, intercepting the Mohun Spear with a deafening clang. The spear snapped in half.
But the tip of the spear, powered by the terrifying momentum, continued its trajectory and instantly pierced one of the Demon Spider's eight eyes.
Hiss!
The creature shrieked in a rage born of immense pain. It hadn't anticipated such power from the tiny creature. It had cut the spear, yet the remaining portion still carried enough force to pierce its ocular defense. Though the injury wasn't fatal—it hadn't penetrated the brain—the blinding of an eye sent the Human-Faced Demon Spider into a furious frenzy.
Hiss!
The Demon Spider rushed forward, spewing a fresh spider web from its mouth. However, the greater distance allowed Zhu Hao to easily evade it without having to resort to burrowing again. He rolled sideways, dodging the first attack, but then a second web suddenly fell from the sky, trapping his planned escape route.
"You're smart, but you'll never catch Lord Pig!"
Zhu Hao dove into the ground, evaded the second web, and then tunneled out to the side.
"Activate: Law of Heaven and Earth!"
The Demon Spider had expended its three web attacks. It was the perfect moment. Zhu Hao's body swelled, his strength multiplied, and a huge, powerful Mohun Spear materialized in his giant paw. He charged the infuriated spider.
Hiss!
The Demon Spider roared back, its eight spear-like legs moving with renewed, furious speed, rushing to meet Zhu Hao's attack. It was an ultimate humiliation to have been wounded by a creature it considered food. It would tear Zhu Hao to shreds.
Ding! Ding! Ding!
The battle erupted into a spectacular clash. The eight sharp legs stabbed relentlessly at Zhu Hao. Zhu Hao swung his Mohun Spear, creating a dazzling circle of cold light that enveloped his enlarged body, blocking every single thrust.
His dashing, heroic posture, agile movements, and fierce spear-work were proof: Lord Pig had transformed into a true Kung Fu Master Pig!
Whoosh!
Not long into the exchange, one of the spider legs grazed Zhu Hao's belly, slicing a few golden hairs from his now-hardened skin. The chilling sharpness of the attack sent a jolt of fear through his massive body. One direct hit, and he would be ripped open.
"Hardness!"
Zhu Hao instantly activated his new Magical Power. His normally soft, golden fur seemed to instantly transform into a coat of tough, springy steel needles. His overall defense instantly surged.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
The eight spider legs hammered down on Zhu Hao. Even with the defensive boost, Zhu Hao felt the immense pressure. He was relying purely on strength and speed, lacking any true Soul Power combat techniques.
"Spider Web!"
"Straw Rope!"
Zhu Hao spat out a sticky web. The Demon Spider raised two of its legs to block the attack, momentarily sticking its limbs and slowing its movements. Instantly, the Straw Rope shot out and began coiling around the stuck legs.
Swish!
The Demon Spider's other legs savagely sliced at the rope.
Though the creature could cut the Straw Rope, the rope endlessly regenerated and reapplied itself, severely restricting the Demon Spider's lightning-fast agility and movement.
"Die!"
Zhu Hao saw his chance. He sliced off one of the Demon Spider's legs with a lightning-fast sweep of the spear, then thrust the weapon toward the creature's remaining eyes.
Hiss!
Sensing the fatal danger, the Demon Spider struggled with desperate force, but its eight legs were hopelessly tangled by the Straw Rope!
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Straw Rope finally snapped under the Demon Spider's desperate, enraged struggle, but the temporary delay was the key moment, the tipping point between life and death.
Zhu Hao seized the fraction of a second, driving the Spear into the Demon Spider's head.
Hiss!
The creature went berserk, all eight legs lashing out blindly at Zhu Hao.
ROAR!
Zhu Hao roared, pouring every ounce of his remaining strength into the thrust. The spear drove home, piercing the Demon Spider's head completely, knocking the huge body away.
SPLAT!
However, in its death throes, one of the Demon Spider's legs lashed out, its tip snagging Zhu Hao's side.
Lacerate!
Blood splattered. A deep, bloody wound appeared on Zhu Hao's waist, exposing the bone beneath. The golden fur around the wound rapidly turned black—a clear sign of the spider's potent poison.
Kill the Human-Faced Demon Spider, Energy +40, Experience +40, Magical Power: Eight Spider Lance.
A notification flashed. Zhu Hao glanced at the massive corpse lying motionless nearby. He immediately retracted his Magical Powers, shrinking back to his small, adorable size. He moved his two short legs like frantic pinwheels, running toward the location of the Blue Silver Empress.
"Sister Yin! Lord Pig has been poisoned! I'm dying! Wooo!"
Zhu Hao ran with exaggerated, circular steps, screaming the news at the top of his lungs.
"You are so high-profile, attacking every Soul Beast you see. Now you've finally paid the price!"
A glimmering blue vine emerged from the ground, briefly observing Zhu Hao's comical, frantic approach. Ah Yin smiled knowingly, her beautiful eyes alight with amusement. The vine then dissolved back into the earth, ready to intercept the "dying" hero. He knew exactly who to run to. The dramatic return was simply the final, necessary act to claim his reward.